2023 DHS GP Prelim P2 - Answer Scheme

1 DHS GP 2023 PRELIM PAPER 2 (Topic: Minimalism vs Cluttercore) Suggested Answer Key and Mark Scheme From Passage 1 1. [a] In paragraph 1, what are two reasons given to explain why Sonrisa Andersen ’s mother was a hoarder? Use your own words as far as possible. [2] From the text Suggested paraphrase It might conceivably have been the lost marriage she was dealing with, or more evidently a habit that had spiralled out of control as her mother ’s dependence on drugs and alcohol intensified. (l.2-4) A. The two reasons are (i) the divorce (that caused Andersen’s mother to be sad) and (ii) her increasing addiction to controlled substances and spirits (drugs and alcohol) [Part (i) and (ii) each for 1m, total 2m] 1. [b] Which reason does the author see as the bigger contributor to her (the mother’s) hoarding, and how do you know this? [1] From the text Suggested paraphrase Textual clues: The two reasons are marked by “might conceivably”, “or more evidently”. The stronger reason is marked by “more evidently” and “spiralled out of control”. B(i) The author sees Andersen ’s mother’s addiction/ use of controlled substances and spirits as the bigger contributor. (Accept “drugs and alcohol”/Accept if students say the addiction was the bigger contributor.) AND B(ii) This is because her hoarding behaviour / pattern became more obvious / unmanageable/ worse as her addiction worsened. Or The author used terms like “more evidently ” (to suggest his certainty that drugs led to her behaviour). [Both b(i) and b(ii) for 1m] 2. Explain the author ’s use of the phrase ‘struck gold’ (line 9) to describe what Sonrisa Andersen found online. Use your own words as far as possible. [1] From the text Suggested paraphrase She went online for a solution and struck gold. The search turned up blogs about “minimalism”: a lifestyle of living with less and being happy with what you already own. The minimalist bloggers were men and women who, like her, had an epiphany that came from a personal crisis of consumerism. Buying more had failed to make them happier. (l.8-11) Textual clues: Paraphrasing ‘struck gold’ A (i) The phrase ‘struck gold’ tells us that Sonrisa Andersen was successful in her search for an answer. OR (ii) found something very valuable / useful.

2 - her search found explanations about minimalism as a lifestyle that was pertinent to her. - “like her” and “epiphany” mark the realisation that Andersen had. Explanation (context) B. She came to the realisation/learnt that possessing too many things does not lead to contentment. [A and B for 1m] 3. From paragraph 3, explain how the author uses two examples to support his view that ‘most of us do not need as much as we have’ (line 17). [2] From the text Suggested answer The average American household possesses more than 300,000 items, which are mostly tucked away in attics, basements or other forgotten recesses of the house. In the UK, one study found that children have on average 238 toys, but only play with 12 of them on a daily basis. (l.15-18) Textual clues: The two examples make specific references to the US and UK. The stress on the big number “300,000” and the words “but only play with” highlight the author’s concern. *benchmarking to review* In his first example: A. The author shows that a typical (American) household (i) possesses a vast / a shocking number/great of items (Note: intensity is required) DNA: Most/Many/Large number/ A lot (ii) which are not put to good use [Both (i) and (ii) for 1m] In his second example: B. The author shows how it is common for children to have (i) far more/too many toys (ii) than they would (actually) play with (on a regular basis) [Both (i) and (ii) for 1m] (Combined Alternative) The author shows that it is common in (parts of the world/in developed nations like) the US and the UK or people/Both - to have vast / excessive/ great number of objects like hundreds of thousands of items, and hundreds of toys, [1m] DNA: Most/Many/Large number/ A lot - that they seldom use / cast aside (because they keep these belongings away or do not play with them) [1m] (Details of the examples are needed, such as ‘items’ ‘things’ or ‘toys’ and that are not utilized) 4. Using lines 25-30, explain why material accumulation and devotion ‘made sense as forms of security ’ (line 24-25) in the past but not today. Use your own words as far as possible. [2] From the text Suggested paraphrase Up through the 20th century (Accumulation) If you were in possession of your home and your land, no one could deprive you of your property. (l.22) Today (Accumulation) Even if you buy a house today, you never know when rich conglomerates would acquire the land it sits on forcefully. (l.27) (Accumulation) A. (i) In the past, people would not lose the home (real estate, land) that they have bought/owned. A. (ii) Today, however, (a) people could be pressured to sell their home to corporations. DNA: taken away

3 (Devotion) If you stuck with one company throughout your career, it was insurance against periods of future economic instability, when you hoped your employer would protect you. (l.23-24) (Devotion) Companies now hire people on short-term contracts and let them go once the work is done. (l.25) [A(i) and A(ii) for 1m] (Devotion) B. (i) In the past, people kept to the same job as a safeguard against economic uncertainty. B.(ii) Today, employment is not permanent/temporary. OR Employees are terminated / dismissed as soon as their work is done. (Accept ‘fired’) DNA: short time ( “short-term” isn ’t necessarily a short duration) [B(i) and B(ii) for 1m] Note: Students must do a fair comparison for past vs present for each basis/factor (accumulation and devotion). Do not accept if they present that “ in the past was (a)(i), (b)(i) but now is (a)(ii) and (b)(ii)”, unless they signpost explicitly with ‘respectively’. 5 Explain the author’s use of the word ‘distasteful’ and suggest one reason why conspicuous consumption was ‘losing its meaning’ (line 36). [2] From the text Suggested answer The Great Recession of 2008 also seemed to usher in a larger minimalist moment. An appreciation for simplicity emerged as the economy came to a standstill. Shopping at thrift stores became cool. So did a certain style of rustic simplicity. Conspicuous consumption, the ostentation of the previous decades, was not just distasteful, it was losing its meaning. In an age defined by the sense that the surrounding civilisation is excessive , accumulating more stuff loses its appeal. (l.33-36) Textual clues: ● “shopping at thrift stores became cool” (l.31) ● “certain style of rustic simplicity” (l.32) ● “civilisation (society) is excessive” (l.34) A. The author uses the word “distasteful” to show that it was (i) (morally) inappropriate/repulsive to be consuming excessively OR because he disapproved of such frivolous spending (ii) when the economy is doing poorly / people are losing their jobs/during the Great Recession. [A(i) and A(ii) for 1m] B. Conspicuous consumption is losing its meaning because ORA ● (woke/awareness) people are more aware now about consuming responsibly ● (changing values/beliefs) showing off is no longer what people want to do ● (context) everyone is / people are facing economic hardship ● (context) lifestyle choice [1m]

4 6. Explain what the author means by ‘exorcism of yesteryear’ (line 41) when referring to decluttering. [2] From the text Suggested answer For some of its devotees, minimalism is therapy. The act of getting rid of everything is like an exorcism of yesteryear, clearing the way for a new future of pristine simplicity. (lines 36-37) The author means that there